Vulcanizing press



P 1944' 1.. 5., SODERQUIST 2,358,763

VULGANIZING PRESS I Filed Feb. 25, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet. l

avwawlfoz LESLIE ELSODERQIUIST I Sept 1944- L. E. SODERQUIST v I VULCANIZING PRESS Filed Feb. 25, 194; 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ////////////7/ I I I llllllllll awoentoz 1.55m 15 E. SODERQUIST allot/mug Sept. 19, 1944.

L. E. SODERQUIST VULCANIZING PRESS Filed Feb. 25, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Midway/1m 3% U0 u foz LESLIE E. SODERQUIST Sept. 19, 1944. I E. SODERQUIST I 2,353,753

VULCANIZING PRESS Filed Feb; 25, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 awwmtoz LE5LIE E. SODERQUIST attovney' I.

Sept. 19, 1944. E. SODERQUlST 2,353,763

VULCANIZING PRESS Filed Feb. 25, 1943 EYSheetS-Sheet 5 V grwmyboo LESLIE. E. SODERQUIST abbot/M443 Patented Sept. 19,1944

vuwmzme PRESS Leslie E. Soderqulst, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The Engineering Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 25, 1943, Serial No. 477,794

McNeil Machine 8:

' 31 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in presses for vulcanizing pneumatic tires and inner tubes for such tires, although it is adaptable for use with other types of presses wherein quick and accurate adjustment is required between the upper platen and the press head.

In presses of this type it is sometimes quite a problem to secure the upper movable mold section and movable upper platen to the press head so as to permit proper adjustment between the press head and these other movable members.

This is more particularly true where the press is adapted to receive mold sections of varying sizes and thicknesses whereby a change in mold size may be quickly made without dismantling the press. In the co-pendlngapplication of Leslie E. soderquist and Thomas H. Williams, Ser. No.

429,666, now Patent No. 2,345,838, mechanism is shown for use in large-size presses for accomplishing certain of the purposes of the present invention, but for smaller-presses it is more desirable to use the present invention. a

It is broadly an object of this invention to provide mechanism which will permit quick and accurate adjustment between the press head and the upper platen when the mold sections are initially placed in the press and when replacements are made with diiierent-sized mold sections.

More specifically, it is another object to pro.- vide a rotatable sleeve having right and lefthand threads on its inner and outer peripheries, respectively, with the inner threads engaging a bolt or screw carried by the press head, and with the outer threads engaging the upper platen whereby rotation of the sleeve will cause relative movement between the platen and press head to effect any desired adjustment. p

A further object is to provide a gear-and-pinion arrangement for rotating the sleeve which may be locked at any suitable position was to prevent accidental rotation of the sleeve.

A further object is to provide means for pre-e venting relative rotation of the platen with respect to the press head.

Other objects and advantages will becom apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view or the pinion and operating mechanism therefor,

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4, with the pinion operating mechanismv reversed,-

Fig. 6 is a section through the mechanism shown in Fig. 4, taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fi 4,

Fig. 7 is a section taken substantially on line 'I'I of Fig. 6, with some parts shown in elevation,

Fig. 8 is a section similar to Fig. 3 showing reduced molds with broken lines indicating movement of the parts to be adjusted,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the parts indicated by line 9-9 of Fig. 8,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a press embodying the present invention,

- Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same with parts broken away andshown in section,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the mold sections, the upperplaten and part of the press head,

.Fig. 10 is a section taken substantially on line Iii-rill of Fig. 9 with parts shown in elevation, and with the-figure turned through an angle of and,

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the parts indicated by line li-I'l of Fig. 3 with some parts shown in section.

Referring to the-drawings, a vulcanizing press to which this invention may be applied comprises a base III which supports a fixed lower section II of a vulcanizing mold. An upper mold section 12, complementary to the section II, is arranged whereby when the .mold sections are closed they receive an inner tube I: or other inflatable member in the usual manner. The mold sections are chambered as at H to receive'steam or-other curing medium and the tube I3 is inflated and deflated in the conventional manner through valves (not shown). The upper mold section I2 is rigidly secured to an upper movable platen l5 by means of spaced bolts l8.

Since the press shown is for vulcanizing inner tubes, the mold sections Ii and I2 could be arranged diagonally, as is well understood in this art. Also these mold sections could be adapted to receive a tire to be vulcanized, in which case the mold sections would contain suitable means to form a tread design on the tire, asis customary. I

The upper platen i5 is adjustably securedto a press head ll substantially centrally of the platen, whereby the distance between the platen and press head can be increased or decreased as desired. As more clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 8, the press head l'l carries a relatively large bolt or screw l8 cast or otherwise formed integral therewith. Bolt i8 and the press head are cen trally cored as at is to reduce the weight of the parts, and threads 20 are formed on the outer periphery of the bolt except for a short distance at each end thereof. A sleeve 2| has its inner periphery provided with threads 22 which cooperate with the threads 20 to provide relative turnme of sleeve 2| c-n bolt 3. On its outer periphery the sleeve 2| is formed with threads 23 having threaded'engagement with threads 24 formed in the wall of an opening 25 arranged centrally through the upper platen l5. Preferably, threads 22 on the sleeve are right-hand threads, while threads 23 are left-hand threads, and the threads on the bolt l8 and platen I are formed to cooperate with the threads on the sleeve. However, it will be apparent that the direction of the threads on the sleeve may be reversed as long as they are oppositely arranged with the threads on the platen and press head changed accordingly.

In its upper end, the sleeve 2| has a preferabiy integral flange 26 having gear teeth 27 on its outer periphery whereby this flange becomes in effect a ring gear which meshes with the teeth of an elongated pinion 28 rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 2d, the lower end of which is threaded into the upper platen 55, as indicated at 30. A locking pin or set screw 3| is utilized to prevent rotation of the stub shaft 29.

Rotation of the pinion 28 and, through it, rotation of the sleeve 2| is preferably accomplished manually by means of a reversible ratchet action. As shown, a ratchet handle 32 has one end 33 arranged around the reduced upper end of pinion 28 so as to rest on top of the teeth of this pinion. A cap or washer 34 is placed over the end of the handle and is secured by means of a bolt 35 threaded into the upper end of stub shaft 29. This bolt 35, when completely tightened, forces the handle, pinion and stub shaft tightly together and prevents any turning of the pinion on the stub shaft. But when bolt 35 is loosened a little, the pinion can turn on the stub shaft and the bolt serves to hold the end 33 of the handie in place on the pinion.

A ratchet housing 36 is formed integral with or otherwise secured to the lower face of handle 32 intermediate the ends thereof, and this housing has a relatively large longitudinal chamber 31 therein extending from the end of the housing nearest pinion 23 for about three-quarters of the housing where it is reduced in size as at 338 and communicates with a transverse opening 39 extending inwardly from the opposite end of the housing. A spring-pressed pawl 40 having a stem 4| is slidably mounted in chamber 31 and a portion of the stem extends into opening 33 where a small handle 42 is connected to the stem and extended at right angles thereto in the opening 39 so that this handle will protrude beyond the sides of the housing. A coil spring 43 surrounds the stem 4| in the chamber 31 and normally urges pawl 40 toward pinion 28 and the extent of movement of pawl 40 toward the pinion is reached when handle 42 is at the inner end of opening 33, a more clearly shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

The head of pawl 40 has two beveled faces 44 and 45 and it will be noted that face 45 is longer and is arranged at a greater angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pawl than face 44. Preferably, face 44 is on an angle of about 35 and face 46 is on an angle of about 55 whereby the two faces form substantiallya right angle at their meeting edge. However. these faces ing the direction of its movement, and in doing so, the face 45 of the pawl merely slides over the outer portions of the teeth on pinion 28 without turning the pinion. Clockwise movement of the handle 32 is then repeated and it will be apparent that handle 32 may be operated in the man ner indicated until the sleeve 2| has been rotated to the position desired.

To rotate the sleeve 2| in the opposite or clockwise direction, it is necessary to turn the pinion 28 in a counter-clockwise direction and this is accomplished by reversing the action of the pawl 40. As more clearly shown in Figs. 4 to 7, the small handle 42 may be moved. longitudinally of the housing 36 until it clears the end of slot 39, thereby moving pawl to the brokenline position shown in Fig. 4. Handle 42 is then turned 180, as indicated in Fig. 7, and the faces of the pawl will be reversed. The action of spring 43 will urge pawl 4|] into engagement with pinion 28 and the arrangement will then be substantially as shown in Fig. 5, with handle 42 being received in the opposite side of slot 39. With pawl 40 in the position shown in Fig. 5, when handle 32 is turned in a counter-clockwise direction, pinion 28 will also be turned in the same direction as indicated by the arrows, and

sleeve 2| will be rotated in a clockwise direction.

can be formed on other suitable angles. Face 44 It will be ObSQLVEd that the action of the pawl faces 44 and 45 in response to the movement of handle 32 is the same as in Fig. 4, except that the faces are reversed to turn the pinion 28 in a counter-clockwise direction.

During rotation of sleeve 2| in either direction, means are provided to prevent turning movement of the platen l5 and to insure only vertical movement of this platen. As shown in Figs. 2, 3, 8 and 11, a guide arm 46 has its front end secured to the press head I! as by bolts 41, while its rear end cooperateswith a cam (not shown) carried on a shaft (not shown) at the rear of the press to guide the upper platen l5 and its attached mold during opening and closing of the press. Intermediate its ends, guide arm 46 has a vertical opening 48 through which a, rod 49 extends, the lower end of said rod being suitably secured in platen l5, as indicated at 50. As more clearly shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, a guide sleeve 3| surrounds rod 49 and is held in place by oppositely arranged screws or bolts 52 which extend through portions of arm 46 and are received in sleeve 5| with what is known as a dogpoint connection. Thus, platen I5 and rod 43 can move vertically in response to rotation of the sleeve 2| and movement of rod 43 will be guided in sleeve 5|, but turning movement of platen I5 is prevented.

Referring now to Fig. 8, the features of my improved arrangement are more easily understood. The broken-line position of the platenl5 and the pinion-and-gear mechanism is substantially the same as shown in Fig; 3, while the full-line position of these partsshow how th platen l5 and the parts connected thereto may be moved downwardly to accommodate different sizes of end portions of a I Vertical movement of the sleeve 2| is limited to th length of the teeth on pinion 28, since the ring gear on this sleeve can only travel from one end of the pinion teeth to the other. However, by virtue of the oppositely arranged threads on the inner and outer peripheries of sleeve 2|, the latter, lower platen l5 and bolt 18 cooperate to double the amount of relative movement between the platen l5 and press head l'l. Thus, in Fig. 8, the sleeve 2! has only moved a distance not quite equal to the length of the pinion teeth, but the relative movement between platen I5 and the press head has been twice that distance. Hence, with the arrangement shown, I am able to get a wide range of adjustment while moving the sleeve but half the distance required mold sections.

.for the complete adjustment, and this same ratio prevails whether the upper platen and press head are moved toward or away from each other.

In assembling the upper platen l5 and it mold section l2 with the press head H, a pair of mold sections it and I2 would first be laid upon the lower platen I and the lower mold section H would be secured to the lower platen. As'suming that the upper platen is above the upper mold section, this upper platen may be quickly lowered by properly setting the pawl 40 and manipulating the handle 32. When the platen l engages the top of upper mold section 12, the latter may be firmly secured to the upper platen by means of bolts l6. Also, the upperv mold section I! could be initially secured to platen l5 and then lowered with the latter until it properly mated with mold section I l. Obviously,- changes in the size of the mold sections may be made with a minimum of time and effort.

The upper mold section press head I! are designed to move in unison during the opening and closing of the press, and to this end, the press head has a short shaft 53 journaled therein which carries a pair of spaced arms 54 mounted for rocking movement on the ends of this shaft. Arms 54 are formed integral with a rocking cross beam 55 that has its outer ends 56 suitably journaled in the upper pair of side arm 51. The latter arms are pivoted to the base of the press as l2, platen l5 and the indicated at 58, and adjacent their upper ends are each provided with a pair of integral lateral extension arms 59. Between each pair of arms 59, one end of a link 60 is pivoted as at Bl, while the opposite end of each link is pivoted as at 62 to a crank arm 63 extending outwardly from the side face of a gear wheel 64 keyed to a shaft (not shown) which is suitably mounted for rotation The latter shaft is at the rear of the press. adapted to bev driven from a reversing motor 65 so that rotation of said shaft in one direction causes the press to open and opening movement by arm 46, while rotation in the opposite direction will close the press. For more specific information a to the opening and closing of a press of this type, reference may be had to th co-pending application Serial No. 429,666, previously referred to,

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it will b apparent that the invention is not so limited, and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the sub-joined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vulcanizing press of the character described having a pair of press sections, at least one of which is beguided during its movable to open and close the scribed having a pair press, a movable press press, a movable press head for supporting said movable press section, means ,for relatively spacing said press head and said movable press section, comprising a rotatable member having threaded engagement with said press head and with said movable press section, and means for turning said rotatabl member, said press head, said movable press section and said spacing means being in axial alignment.

2. In a vulcanizing press of the character deof press sections, at least one of which is movable to open and close the head for supporting said movable press section, means for relatively spacing said press head and said movable press section comprising a rotatable member having threaded engagement in one direction with said press head and in the opposite direction with said movable press section, and means for turning said rotatable member, said press head, said movable press section and said spacing means being in axial alignment.

3. In a vulcanizing press of the character described having upper and lower press sections, at least the upper of which is movable to open and close the press, a movable press head for supporting said upper press section, means for relatively spacing said press head and said upper press section comprising a rotatable member having threaded engagement with said press head and with said upper press section, and means for turning said rotatable member, said press head, said upper press section and said spacing means being in axial alignment.

4. In a vulcanizing press of the character described having upper and lower press sections, at least the upper of which is movable to open and close the press, a movable press head for supporting said upper press section, means for relatively spacing said press head and said upper press section comprising a rotatable member having threaded engagement in one direction with said press head and in the opposite direction with said upper press section, and means for turning said rotatable member, said press head, said upper press section and said spacing means being I in axial alignment.

6. In a vulcanizing press of the character de-.v

scribed having a pair of press sections, at least one of which is movable to. open and close the press, a movable supporting member for said movable press section, means for relatively spacing said supporting member and said movable 'press section comprising a rotatable tubular sleeve having threads running in one direction on its inner periphery and having threads running in the opposite direction on its outer periphery, one set of said threads having engagement with said supporting member and the other set of said threads having engagement with said movable press section, and means for turning said sleeve.

ment with said upper press section, and means for turning said sleeve.

8. In a vulcanizing press of the character decribed having upper and lower press sections, at least the upper of which is movable to open and close the press, a movable supporting member for said upper press section, means for relatively spacing said supporting member and said upper press section, comprising a rotatable tubular sleeve having threads running in one direction on its inner periphery and having threads running in the opposite direction on its outer periphery, one set of said threads having engagement with said supporting member and the other set of said threads having engagement with said upper press section, and means for turning said sleeve.

,movable press 9. In a vulcanizing press of the character described having a pair of press sections, at least one of which is movable to open and close the press, a movable press head for supporting said movable press section, means for relatively spacing said press head and said movable press section comprising a rotatable member having threaded engagement with said press head and said gear, and a reversible ratchet member operable in one position to rotate said pinion in one direction, and when reversed to rotate said pinion in the opposite direction.

10. In a vulcanizing press of the character described having a pair of press sections, at

least one of which press head said movable press section, a gear rotatable member, a pinion meshing with said gear, and a reversible ratchet member operable in one position to rotate said pinion in one direcdirection with carried by said head and with said upper press section, a gear carried by said rotatable member, a pinion meshing with said gear, and a reversible ratchet member, operable in one position to rotate said pinion in one direction and when reversed to rotate ,said pinion in the opposite direction.

12. In a vulcanizing press of the character described having upper and lower press sections, at least the upper of which is movable to open and close the press, a movable press head for supporting said upper press section, means for relatively spacing said press head and said upper press section comprising a rotatable member having threaded engagement in one direction pinion in the opposite direction.

13. In a vulcanizing press of the character described having a pair of press sections, at least one of which is movable to open and close the press, a movable, supporting member for said section, means for relatively spac ing said supporting member and said movable press section comprising a rotatable tubular sleeve having threads on both its inner and outer peripheries, one set of said threads having engagement with said supporting member and the threads having engagement with press section, a gear carried by said sleeve, a pinion meshing with said gear, and a reversible ratchet member operable in one site direction.

15. In a vulcanizing press of the scribed having upper and lower character deits outer pesaid threads having engagement with said supporting member and the other set of said threads having engagement with said 17. A vulcanizing press'of the type referred to in claim 13 wherein means are provided to lock said gear, said pinion and said ratchet member against movement of any kind.

18. A vulcanizing press of the type referred to in claim 9 wherein means are provided to prevent turning movement or said movable-press section. v

19. A vulcanizing press of the type referred to in claim 13 wherein means are provided to prevent turning movement of said upper press section.

20. A vulcanizing. press of the character described having upper and lower press sections, at least the upperof which is movable to open and close the press, a movable supporting member for said upper press section, a threaded extension on said supporting member, said upper press section being provided with a threaded opening, a rotatable tubular sleeve having threads on its inner periphery running in one direction and in threaded engagement with said extension, said, sleeve having threads on its outer periphery running in the opposite direction and in threaded engagement with the threads in said opening, and means for rotating said sleeve for relatively spacing said supporting member and said upper press section.

21; In a vulcanizing press or the character described having a pair or complementary mold sections, at least one or which is movable to open and closed position, a platen to which said movable mold section is secured, a movable supporting member for said platen, said platen being between said supporting member and said mov-' able mold section, means for relatively spacing said supporting member and said platen. comprising a rotatable member having threaded engagement .with said supporting member and with said platen, and means for turning said rotatable member, said platen, said movable mold section, said supporting member and said spacing means being in axial alignment. I

22. A vulcanizing press oi. the type referred to in claim 21 wherein means are provided to prevent rotation of the platen during turning movement or the rotatable member.

23. A vuleanizing press of the type referred to in claim 21- wherein said rotatable member has threaded engagement in one direction with said supporting member and in the opposite direction with said platen.

24. In avuleanizing press or the character described having upper and lower mold sections, at

least-the upper of which is movable to open and .closed position, a, platen to which said upper' mold section-is secured, a press head for-supporting said platen, saidplaten being between said press head and said upper mold section, means forrelatively spacing said press head and said platen, comprising a rotatable member having threaded engagement with said press head and with said platen, and means for turning said rotatable member, said platen, said upper mold section, said supporting member and said spacing means being in axial alignment.

25. A vulcanizing press ofthe type reierred'to in claim 24 wherein means are provided to prevent rotation of the. laten during turning movementof the rotatable member.

26. A vulcanizing press of he type referred to in claim 24 wherein said rotatable member has threaded engagement in one direction with said press head and in the opposite direction with said platen..

' 27. In a vulcanizing press of the character described having a pair of mold sections, at least one of which is movable to open and closed position, a platen to which said movable 'mold sec-' tion is secured, a movable supporting member for said platen, means for relatively spacing said supporting member and said platen, comprisinga rotatable tubular sleeve having threads on both its inner and outer peripheries, one set of threads having engagement with said supporting member and the other set of threads having engagement with said platen, and means ior turning said sleeve.

28. A vulcanizing press of the type referred to in claim 27 wherein the threads on the inner periphery or said sleeve run ,in one direction and the threads on the outer periphery of said sleeve run in the opposite direction.

29. A vulcanizing press or the type referred to in claim 27 wherein the threads on the inner periphery or said sleeve run in one direction and the threads on the outer periphery of said sleeve run in the opposite direction, and means for preventing rotation of the platen during turning movement of the sleeve.

30. A vulcanizing press of the type referred to in claim 27 wherein said lastnamed means comprises a gear carried by said sleeve, a pinion meshing with said gear, and means for rotating said pinion in either direction.

31. A vulcanizing press or the type referred to in claim 2'1 wherein the threads on the inner periphery of said sleeve run in one direction and the threads on the outer periphery of said sleeve rup. in the opposite direction, said means for turning said sleeve comprising a gear carriedby said sleeve, a pinion meshing with said gear, and means for rotating said pinion in either direction.

mar-us n. sonnaqurs'r. 

